But is there yet no other way besides
Those painful passages, how we may come
To death, and mix with our connatural dust?
"There is," said Michael, "if thou will observe
The rule of _not too much_, by temperance taught."
MILTON'S PARADISE LOST.
Till oft converse with heavenly habitants,
Begin to cast a beam on th' outward shape,
The unpolluted temple of the mind,
And turns it by degrees to the soul's essence,
Till all be made immortal.
COMUS.
The shades of evening were falling as Holden entered the village. He
proceeded straight to the house of Mr. Armstrong, whom he had seen
twice or thrice already since his return from New York, though we have
made no mention of the visits.
He found Armstrong thinner and paler than ever. The constitutional
melancholy with which he was afflicted appeared to have deepened, and
there was something now in the tones of his voice so sad and tender,
that they moved Holden to an extraordinary degree. Other friends of
Armstrong were affected by them, but, with the exception of Faith,
there was no one who seemed to lay these signs of unhappiness so much
to heart as the Solitary. This, perhaps, may account, in a measure,
for the increased frequency of his visits.
A smile like sunshine stealing from behind a wintry cloud over the
pure snow, welcomed Holden. As he took the offered hand of Armstrong,
he found it extenuated and cold, and pressed it with more than
ordinary feeling, before he took a seat by his side. The first inquiry
of the Recluse was, as usual, after Faith.
"She is out," answered her father, "but I expect her soon."
"The sight of Faith is to me as the beauty and fragrance of days long
gone," said Holden. "Unsinning Eve was not more lovely."
"She was early dedicated to her God, and is, indeed, a meet offering
for his altar," said Armstrong.
"Blessed are they," exclaimed Holden, "whose feet have never strayed
from the straight and narrow way. Where they tread spring up immortal
flowers, and they breathe the air of Paradise."
"And, alas!" said Armstrong, "how short is usually their stay. How
soon they depart for the celestial regions, to which they belong,
leaving breaking hearts behind!"
"Woe to the earth-born selfishness, that riseth up in opposition!
It is not agreeable to the law of God, nor can be. Down with the
rebellion of ignorance and unbelief."
"But is no allowance to be made for human weakness? May we not weep
over the calamities of life?"
"Aye, weep, if the tears wash out a sin, but not because the divine
will is different from thine own. What callest thou calamity? There is
no calamity, but sin."
"It is hard," sighed Armstrong, "to reach that height of abnegation
and faith to which you would have me aspire."
"Hard, but attainable, for without faith it is impossible to please
Him. There are examples set before us for imitation of what the
trusting spirit can achieve. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac when he
was tried, having confidence that God could raise him up even from
the dead. By faith--but why should I recount the deeds of those grand
souls, of whom the world was not worthy, who, through faith, subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire, even from Enoch, who tasted
not the bitterness of death, and Elijah, mounting on a fiery chariot,
in a whirlwind, to heaven, down to these latter days, when, as said
the apostle, 'faith should wax weak, and almost perish from the
earth?'"
Armstrong looked at Holden, with an expression like fear.
"Who is equal to these things?" said he.
"I knew a man once," said the Enthusiast, thinking of the peril he had
just escaped, and darkly shadowing forth its circumstances, "whom a
ravening lion sought to destroy, and the heart of the man sunk within
him, for, in view of the beast, he forgot that the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth, but an angel whispered it in his ear, and strengthened him,
and he defied the lion, and smote him, and killed the lion. Thus doth
the Lord continue to perform his marvellous works, for he is faithful
and true, and his mercy endureth for ever to them that love him."
Of course, Armstrong could have no correct idea of what Holden alluded
to, nor did he inquire. It was to him only another instance, added by
his enthusiastic friend, to the long catalogue of those in the
sacred record, for whom faith had triumphed over danger, and wrought
deliverance.
"It is, indeed," he said, "a mighty means to bring down the divine
blessing."
"As is the law of gravitation to the worlds," said Holden, looking out
upon the clear sky, filled with stars, "which is the constant force
flowing from the living centre of all things, and retaining them in
harmonious movement in their orbits; so is faith to the human soul.
When it is present all is peace, and harmony, and joy; when it is
absent, a wild chaos, whirling in darkness and confusion, over which
the Spirit hath never brooded like a dove."
At this moment the door opened, and Miss Armstrong, attended by
William Bernard, entered the room. She advanced towards Holden, and
gave him her hand, which he took into both of his, and looking fondly
at her, said:
"Dear child, thy mother's image, the room is brighter for thy
presence."
"There, William," said Faith, smiling, "a lady seldom receives so
delicate a compliment."
"Mr. Holden," said Bernard, "belongs to the old school of politeness,
of which Sir Charles Grandison is the model. Modern degeneracy might
strive in vain to compete with it."
There was a slight, a very slight, an almost imperceptible tone of
irony about the words, which did not escape the sensitive ear of
Holden. He turned towards Bernard, and fastened his large eyes upon
him, in silence, awhile, before he said:
"The secret of politeness is to be found in warmth and goodness of
heart. Flame blazes not up from ice." The words, the tone, the look,
conveyed his estimate of the character of the young man, and was not
without influence on one, at least, of his auditors. "But," continued
he, "thy presence, Faith, is truly, to me, as light. Deemest thou me
capable of unmeaning compliments?"
"No," answered Faith, suspecting the little feeling of resentment, and
desirous to soothe it, "I do not. Forgive my absurd observation."
"And I hope," said Bernard, in his most engaging manner, "that Mr.
Holden is not offended at my classing him among those who for delicacy
and refinement were never surpassed."
"I like not," said Holden, "to be made a subject of conversation. We
will find a fitter topic."
"You spoke of Faith's resemblance to her mother," said Mr. Armstrong,
"whose quick sensibility had also detected the jarring string; how did
you discover it?"
"You forget," answered Holden, "that in conversation with me you have
spoken of her."
"But not described her appearance."
"The resemblance of a child to a parent, may be oftentimes deduced
from qualities of the mind, and traits of character. The outer garment
is fitted to the interior man. The exterior and transient is the
product of the interior and permanent. But I mean not that it was thus
I discovered the likeness; and if for a moment I misled thee, let
me correct my error and thy mistake. You will consider these as the
speculations of a visionary."
"I do not consider them without foundation," said Armstrong, who,
in the turn given to the conversation, seemed to have forgotten his
question.
"It is a speculation which, followed out, might lead to many
interesting conclusions," said Bernard. "Mr. Holden would greatly
oblige us with his ideas."
"Do," said Faith, who delighted in the Solitary's flights. "Explain,
dear Mr. Holden, your theory."
Holden looked at Mr. Armstrong, who bowed.
"The first man, Adam," said Holden, "was created perfect, perfect in
body as in mind. The dignity and beauty of his person corresponded
to the grandeur and purity of his soul, of which it was the outward
expression. All graces and harmonies, and perfections of creation
centered in him, for he was the image of his Maker. He was incapable
of disease, because disease is disharmony and the fruit of sin, which
as yet existed not. And he was obedient unto the voice of the Lord,
nor did he transgress His laws in anything. His meat was the herb of
the field and the fruit of the tree, and his drink the running brook.
He had no permission to eat of flesh. But in an evil hour he fell; a
leprosy overspread his body and his soul; the divine purity could
not approach as before; and to his closed spiritual eyes, the holy
Presence once visible, became shrouded in clouds and thick darkness.
And as the spirit of man waxed more corrupt and he withdrew himself
further from his heavenly source, so did his outward appearance, by a
necessary law, whereby the outer and superficial conformeth itself,
to the inner and hidden, become deformed and hideous. Hence is man now
but a shadow, a skeleton of original beauty. The primeval perfection
and present degeneracy of man, are the tradition of centuries."
Holden paused; and Faith said, gently, "There is a way to regain the
happiness we have lost."
"There is a way," said Holden, "through Him, the second Adam, the Lord
from heaven. But mark: like him, must man be obedient. A faith without
works is fruitless and naught. How many imagine they have faith,
and have it not! Will they give their bodies to be burned? Will they
sacrifice the dearest thing they have, if it is His will? Nay, but
faith hath almost perished from the earth."
Bernard observing Holden wandering from his subject, here inquired,
"And by a reversal of the process by which it was lost, the outward
beauty may be recovered?"
"Yes. By the restoration of internal beauty. It is the latter that
shapeth and shineth through the former. But the eyes of men are
blinded, and they cannot, because they will not, see the truth. The
crust of inherited corruption interposeth betwixt them and the light.
Hence, having eyes they see not, and ears, and they cannot hear. There
is a law to control the spiritual, and a law for the material, and it
is by observance of these two laws, that man's first estate is to be
regained. He must, therefore be temperate, and sober, and wise in the
regulation of his appetites and passions, banishing those pernicious
inventions, whereby he degradeth and engendereth disease in a glorious
structure that ought to be the temple of the Holy Ghost, and must
diligently cultivate all noble aspirations, weeding out selfishness
and gross desires, loving his neighbor as himself, and the Lord his
God with all his heart, which latter is the admiration and love of
beauty, and truth and justice, and of whatever is excellent. Thus both
outwardly and inwardly will gradually be transformed, the marred and
defaced image of humanity into the glorious likeness of the Son of
God."
"That day so longed for and so glorious, is far distant I fear," said
Mr. Armstrong.
"Nay, but the signs of His coming are kindling in the Eastern sky,"
exclaimed Holden, "and soon amid the hymns and hallelujahs of saints
shall he establish His benign and resplendent empire. Then shall
commence the upward career of the race, whose earthly goal is the
state of primeval perfection; whose heavenly it hath not entered into
the heart of man to conceive. Then in that bright Millennium, whose
radiance streams through the advancing ages, shall man cast off the
slough of ignorance and sin, and rise like the painted butterfly, on
the wings of faith, into the serene air of truth."
Our readers must not hold us responsible for the sentiments of Holden.
They are his own, and no one's else, and expressed in his own words,
with all their wildness and incoherence. Opinions like these seem
to have prevailed at all periods of the Christian era. They were
entertained in the times of the Apostles, and are cherished now by a
modern sect. Milton alludes to them in his treatise "Of Reformation in
England" in language which for its stately eloquence, deserves to be
transcribed to enrich this page. He speaks "of that day when Thou, the
eternal and _shortly-expected_ King, shalt open the clouds to judge
the several kingdoms of the world, and distributing national honors
and rewards to religious and just commonwealths, shalt put an end to
all earthly tyrannies, proclaiming thy universal and mild monarchy
through heaven and earth; when they undoubtedly, that by their labors,
counsels, and prayers, have been earnest for the common good of
religion, and their country, shall receive above the inferior orders
of the blessed, the regal additions of principalities, legions, and
thrones, into their glorious titles, and in super-eminence of beatific
vision, progressing the dateless and irrevoluble circle of eternity,
shall clasp inseparable hands with joy and bliss in over-measure for
ever."
His auditors never thought of reasoning with or contradicting the
Enthusiast. They listened in silence, only when he paused, making some
inquiry or suggestion, in order to induce him to develop his notions
still further; and so in conversation of this kind passed the evening.
Upon the departure of Bernard, Holden was pressed to pass the night
at his host's, and accepted the invitation. The events of the day
had proved to be too much for even his iron frame, and he was not
unwilling to be relieved of the long walk to his hut. Before retiring,
he listened reverently to a chapter from the Bible, read by Armstrong,
and joined with him and Faith, in their customary devotions.